26 January,2021 04:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Gaurav Sarkar
Farmers respond to the speeches at Azad Maidan
With tribal music to keep their spirits up on Sunday night after undertaking a vehicular march from Nashik to Azad Maidan, the nearly 15,000 farmers, workers, and peasants celebrated the completion of their journey combining it with vigorous dancing and singing. The exhausted slept under the white shamiana on the ground, which, on Monday morning, was the epicentre of the joint struggle between the farmers and several social and civil rights groups on one side, and the Modi government at the Centre, over the latters' recently passed three farm laws and the proposed changes in labour laws.
At around 11.30 AM on Monday, Azad Maidan drowned under the sea of farmers, most wearing red paper caps with Kisan Sabha written on them. On the stage sat leaders of the Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha (SSKM), namely, Dr Ashok Dhawale (President - AIKS); Hannan Mollah (AIKS General Secretary); Dr Ajit Navale, social activist; Medha Patkar of Narmada Bachao Andolan; noted activist Feroz Mithiborwala, as well as politicos from the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government - including NCP President Sharad Pawar and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat. However, no senior Shiv Sena leaders were present for the rally.
Dr Dhawale said Modi-Shah have been playing out a "hum do humare do" scenario, where they favour Adani and Ambani over the farmers.
âFor all the citizens'
Noted journalist P Sainath said that Monday's show of strength doused the flimsy doubts raised by the Modi government, that the protest was only being undertaken by farmers of Punjab and Haryana. "Are we from Punjab and Haryana? No. We are from Maharashtra." He added, "These laws bar the jurisdiction of civil courts and are against all citizens - not just farmers. If they are implemented...they will harm every citizen. Those sitting at Tikri, Singhu, Ghazipur and Shahjahanpur border aren't only fighting for the farming community but for all citizens of the country."
âNo outcome'
Probably one of the most electrifying speeches given was by AIKS General Secretary Mollah, who said, "Simply changing around small words in the laws will not suffice - the farm laws need to be changed in their entire meaning and essence. We don't want the government to favour corporates like Ambani and Adani, who buy basmati rice from farmers at R18 and then go on to sell it for R200. Kiski dalali kar raha hai Modi?"
"We have said that we want a full repeal of the three laws. But the meetings, even with bada mantri (Amit Shah)â¦were like murgi baithi par anda nahi diya. There was no outcome," he said.
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said that the city of Mumbai had played an important role in the Indian freedom struggle and that today too, Mumbai had again come forward to support the agitation of farmers and workers.
The 80-year-old said that after the BJP government came in at the Centre, they had brought in the farm laws without any discussion. "I remember that three laws were tabled in Parliament in one day and it was insisted that they be passed the same day. These are laws that adversely affect the lives of farmers. Therefore, we won't take on the role of a watchdog - we insist they need discussion."
He added, "Without discussion and without setting up a committee, the government insisted that the laws be brought as they are. This was an insult to the Constitution and Parliament. Attempts were made to pass the laws on the strength of majority, and to destroy parliamentary signals⦠but the common man in this country will destroy the laws."
Immediately after NCP chief Sharad Pawar criticised Governor Bhagatsingh Koshyari for not being available to meet the agitating farmers on Monday, Raj Bhavan clarified that the farmer leaders were informed in advance about Koshyari's prior engagement in Goa, where he holds additional charge as governor.
"Maharashtra hasn't seen such a governor so far. He has time to meet Kangana (Ranaut) but doesn't have time to meet the farmers," Pawar said at the protest at Azad Maidan.
"The Raj Bhavan had told (the leaders) that the governor has additional charge of Goa where he will be addressing the first session of the Goa Assembly on January 25 (Monday), and hence he wouldn't be able to meet the farmers delegation. Joint morcha leader Dhananjay Shinde was informed on January 22 over the phone, and morcha convener Prakash Reddy was informed through a letter on January 24. Shinde had confirmed the Raj Bhavan message and Reddy also received the letter. It is wrong to say that the governor avoided meeting the delegation even after giving an appointment," the Raj Bhavan said in a statement.
